Testimonials

What an amazing experience training with Cesar Parra!

The way he combined training and coaching together in the same lessons inspired me to let go of my obstacles, pushing my limits and comfort zone and Just Do It which resulted in finding answers I have been searching for at the end of every lesson.

Thank you Cesar for your honesty and coaching! I now have a more clear understanding of many concepts and how to apply them correctly 🙂

Also, A big Thank you to Katryna for a great lesson and to Jenn and the entire Cesar Parra’s Team/Family for welcoming us and making us feel at home.

So happy to meet Marcela, Gina & Jonathan Colombia Rocks!

I’m coming back with a smile on my face and with a plan for my future dressage/relationship with Stradi!

I always learn a lot when I came here, I’m always looking forward to be with Cesar

Quote from the testimonial on the video: https://youtu.be/kd_Ix7fx7gY

I know i will never get hurt, because everyone takes such good care of me

I am improving as a person, and as a rider

It was almost a decade ago when first I worked on a horse for Cesar. In the time since, I’ve had the privilege to work on many, including horses Cesar has ridden in competition at the highest levels.  The quality of the collection of horses at Performance would be hard to match anywhere, as would be the condition in which they are kept, the precision in which the barn and the training is conducted and the omnipresent  passion and ambition. I shoe horses confident in the fact that they get whatever they need, including veterinary care from the best. The entire time I’ve had work to do at Performance Katie has been there riding, training and coaching. Her successes are easy to document. Jen has been there the whole time too.  Her dedication and attention to detail are evident constantly in the care and management of world class equine athletes. I can’t forget the many talented riders from the US and all over the world who’ve I’ve seen develop under Cesar’s guidance.  I’ve also seen champion young riders, dynamic and dedicated owners and hard working, enthusiastic adult amateurs. All in all a professionally  run show barn filled with great people, great horses and great staff working as a team. Undeniably, that team is Cesar’s creation.

Cesar’s Barn is the best barn in the world

Quote from the testimonial on the video: https://youtu.be/kd_Ix7fx7gY

I have been riding with Cesar for many years now, and i enjoy very much this place, and his instructions

Quote from the testimonial on the video: https://youtu.be/kd_Ix7fx7gY

I didn’t get a chance to thank you after my ride on Stanley yesterday. You really helped me understand contact and hopefully the next time you see us we will be straight and through as well. Stanley and I have steadily been improving under Michele’s watchful eye but we were never able to get him to stretch over the back at the canter until yesterday. I really think that this is instrumental to our progress and I’m very thankful for your help.

Again many thanks, Debbie Purvin

I have ridden horses in several places of the world including Germany and Holland; after all of that I must said, riding Cesar’s horses is the best. His horses are so well trained, it is really fun.

Diana Rey, Several times medalist in International championships representing Colombia.

Since coming to Performance Farm two years ago, I have learned countless lessons, both in and out of the arena. My experiences here have taught me more about horse care, classical training methods and how to work in a team environment. I am forever appreciative of the opportunities Dr. Parra has given me and will cherish this experience forever.

I will like to take this opportunity to thank you and your wonderful staff for a great week-end at your training center. It was very inspiring and motivating. I received a warm greating from all of your staff, even the boarders. It was such a joy to watch them train all of the very talented horses at Performance Farms. I was overwhelmed by the tender love and care that every horses received. Your installations are impeccable and I can not describe what it felt to ride such a generous horse in that kind of footing. WOW!

Thank you Dr. Cesar Parra for coming to Red Deer to share your knowledge of dressage with us. I must say I enjoyed your humor very much and it helped me to understand what my instructor has been trying to get across to me for the last six months. FINALLY I understand how to get forward. I went home and tried exactly what you were instructing the students in your clinics to do. I had forward immediately with leg off. I have had a hard time keeping my mare going forward in the canter applying the outside rein and today we accomplished this feat with ease. I hope to see you again in Red Deer in the future.

I first met Cesar two years ago when my daughter, Chase, cliniced with him in North Carolina. After a great experience in the clinic, Chase approached him about possibly purchasing a horse to help her achieve her goal of competing in the FEI Young Riders. Cesar graciously invited her up to his farm in New Jersey, and eventually found the perfect horse for Chase.
Today, two years since Chase started working with Cesar fulltime, she has achieved some remarkable, life-defining milestones. Not only did she achieve her initial goal, to qualify to ride at the North American Young Rider Championships the last two years, this year she went home with a Freestyle Silver and Individual Bronze medals. Additionally, she was invited to ride at the Collecting Gaits National Dressage Championships at Gladstone, NJ, finishing in fourth in the Nation both years.
Cesar, Katie, Kevin, Jen, and the entire team at Dr. Cesar Parra Dressage (formally Piaffe-Performance) Farms deserve much of the credit for her successes. Their attention to every detail of developing her as a rider was matched by their attention to developing her as a person. Everytime I visit, I am amazed by the professionalism, dedication and genuine kindness of each of the team members. The confidence, maturity, and life lessons Chase has learned from Cesar and this experience will be with her for the rest of her life. From one father to another, it is with a great deal of gratitude and respect that I thank Cesar for his investment in my daughter.

I am realy happy to have such good horses like Fedrleicht & Grandioso these are absolut top Horses!
Nice to Ride And have both a super caracter! Thanks a lot!

Marcel Schnoenmarkers was born 11/03/1963 in Loon op Zand (Holland)

I had the great opportunity to study with the two best trainers in the World. My first couple of years I worked with Klaus Balkenhol together after that when I had my own business I worked with Herbert Rehbein, who is no longer with us.
My Career started us a jumping rider I competed successful in Highest classes (S).
After jumping I switched into the Dressage. And I owned a commercial and training stable . I had trained many horses until Grand Prix. The horses at this time went always for sale and I was not able to present my self that often in the shows.
But I look back to many young horses witch I trained until Grand Prix Level.
Because of my very good and successful training of the horses, many went on to different riders who were able to show until the Olympic Games.

I trained many juniors, young riders and Grand Prix riders.

I trained a junior rider to the gold medal at the European masters.

I had success with young riders winning bronze medal individual and many Team medals.

I had trained many Grand Prix riders from different nations to European and World Championships. ( for example World Championships in Rome, European in Windsor.

In Austria I trained lately very successful the young riders, Nikolaus Erdmann, Christopher Erdmann and Sabrina Reinwald.

Nikolaus Erdmann was a very successful junior rider, young and Grand Prix rider.

Sabrina Reinwald also very successful in juniors and young riders.

Christoph Erdmann successful us junior rider.

Now I’m so lucky to have the greatest opportunity in my carerr. To use all my knowledge which I own after all the year in this business. That I get to ride, to work and to train under the best condition and with Top Horses without having any time pressure.

Horses which I successfully trained:

Chevalier Olympian with Anne van Olst in Barcelona

Olympic Ferro started with Coby van Baalen at the Olympics in Sydney 2000 and World Games in Rome 1998

Devereaux was with Robert Dover 1994 at the World Games in Den Haag in Holland and later with Ireland for the Olympic Games1996 successful

The barn is unbelievable I love everyone and everyone treats Cousteau like he was there own. What I love the most is how I am treated like a teammate and that my riding is not criticized but given useful tips and solid training to advance. If I were a bit more health this would be the perfect environment to thrive in and it is encouraged, to be this way. Thank you for setting the example in a positive way and staying Focused on the joy the sport can bring.

It has been almost two years since the beginning of one of the most important equestrian projects of the National Colombian Cavalry. Cavalry that, for over two centuries on a horse’s back, has played a key role not only in the fight for our independence, the safety and protection of our country, but also in the fomentation of the equestrian sport nationally. Today our horses and soldiers continue with their constitutional duty of protecting the life of our citizens and the integrity of our territories. Hence, our Military Equestrian Team continues representing the Army and Colombia in national and international equestrian competitions.

Cesar Parra is one of the most recognized names in dressage. Students travel from all over to receive instruction at Dr. Cesar Parra Dressage (formally Piaffe-Performance) Farms. They value Dr. Parra’s years of experience in both national and international competitions, his skill at matching horse and rider perfectly, and his ability to teach dressage to all riding levels.

Dr. Parra’s teachings have become so in demand that he frequently travels the country and the world offering clinics to eager riders who hope to learn from his experience. These clinics are always extremely well attended.

Cesar travels everywhere from Virginia to Texas to Indianapolis to Montreal offering lessons and lectures on the finer points of dressage training. These learning intensive clinics give attendees the chance to learn techniques from an experienced rider and coach.

Past program participants have words of praise and gratitude for Cesar Parra about his clinics.
Paul Maguire, President of Can-Am Equine Marketing Inc. says, On behalf of Can-Am Equine, I would like to thank you for your presentations. I watched your clinics and found them extremely well prepared, educational, and easy to understand. We are glad you found the time to come out here and spread your dressage knowledge. The audience as well as the clinic participants thoroughly enjoyed it.

Diana Bayer spoke about a clinic Dr. Parra gave in Ottawa, saying, My daughter Melissa rode in it for only one day, and in that one day she and I both learned so much. It was the most productive clinic we have ever attended. I do hope you come back to this area soon. Something truly clicked for my daughter.

Participants from a clinic in Montreal wrote in with these words, After reading the testimonials on your page, it is difficult to add anything more. All was said, all express our feelings, and all is so very true! After the clinic, the horses were flying above the ground, some were piaffing, some passaging, some were pirouetting. The equestrian art you presented seemed so logical, so easy, and so classic. Thank you so much for all you have shared with us.